Gun-feeding mechanism



March 11, 1930. s, MARSH 1,750,112

GUN FEEDING MECHANISM Filed March 26, 1928 Patented Mar. 11, 1930 LOUISS. MARSH, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO BOEING AIRPLANE COMPANY,OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON GUN-FEEDING MECHANISM Application filed March 26,1928. Serial No. 264,722.

This invention relates to improvements in gun feeding mechanisms, andmore particularly to airplane armament of the machine gun type, and hasfor its principal object to provide a mechanism whereby a quantity ofammunition may be fed to a gun or guns from cartridge spools or reelmembers, the rotation of which is caused by the gun drawing the bulletsinto the breach. The rotation of the cartridge spools or reel isautomatically governed by brake shoes, which operate from the triggers,or firing controls. In other words, every time the trigger is pulled,the brake is momentarily lifted from the reel to permit advancement ofthe bullets, and immediately upon release of the trigger, the brake shoegrips the cartridge spool, thus preventing the spool from over-running,with a resultant unwinding of the cartridge belt.

These and other objects will appear as my invention is more fullyhereinafter described in thefollowing specifications, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1, is a fragmentary side elevation of anairplane fuselage, showing a machine gun mounted thereon, with myimproved form of bullet feeding spools or reel members and brakingdevice in operative engagement therewith.

Figure 2, is a reduced end elevation of Figure 1 looking in thedirection of the arrow in Figure 1, with some parts omitted forconvenience in illustration.

Figure 3, is an enlarged side elevation of my improved form of brakemember in contact with the periphery of one of the reel members.

Figure 4, is an edgewise view of the brake member.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings Reference numeral 1indicates the fuselage of an airplane, of usual steel tubinconstruction, having the usual control stick 2 swingably mounted withinthe fuselage, and within convenient reach of the operator. 3 indicatesgenerally a machine gun of any approved 50 type, mounted to thefuselage, 1, and adapted to receive its ammunition in belt formation, asat 4:, from a cartridge reel 5. A reel is provided for each gun, andeach is rotatably mouznted within a shaft 6, and suitable brackets Nearthe upper end of the control stick 2, and in the proximity of the handleportion thereof, are mounted gun controls or triggers 8, from whichextend control cables 9, through suitable flexible tubular housing- Thecables extend to the usual trigger mechanism, on the gun. 10 indicates asimilar pair of cables, spliced to the cables 9 and extending upwardlyto the brake members 11, so that, as the triggers on the stick 2 aremoved, inwardly and outwardly, a corresponding reciprocal movement willbe imparted to both sets of cables, 9 and 10, and simultaneously to thebrake members, thus, with each operation of the trigger, thecorresponding reel will be one end of which spring is secured to an armF 16, which is made integral with a bracket 17 and which bracket iswelded to the fuselage, 1, and which pivotally supports the main body 12of the brake member. A brake shoe 18, of any suitable resilientmaterial, is removably secured within the main body member 12. The brakebody and the brake shoe are of such shape as to become tangentiallydisposed to the periphery of the cartridge reel, when the brake isapplied, thus causing a wedging action, and instantaneous stopping ofthe reel.

lVhile I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention, Iam aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselvesto others skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit andscope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent, is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cartridgereel, cartridges adapted to be drawn therefrom in belt-like formation,means operable simultaneously with the trigger of a machine gun forintermittently arresting the feeding action of sald cartridge reel, saidarresting occurring immediatly after the firing of the gun.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a reel, cartridges adapted to be drawn therefrom inbelt-like formation means operable simultaneously and automatically withthe operation of the trigger of a machine gun for intermittentlyarresting the rotation of said reel member.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cartridgereel, cartridges adapted to be drawn therefrom in belt-like formation,means operable simultaneously and automatically with the operation ofthe trigger of a machine gun for intermittently arresting the rotationof said reel member, said means comprising a brake shoe resilientlymounted for engagement With the periphery of one of the reel flanges.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the I combination of a cartridgereel in conjunct1on with a machine gun,'means operable by the gun firingcontrols for arresting the rotation of said cartridge reel after eachfiring of the gun, said means comprising a yieldingly mounted brakemember having a resilient surface adaptedfor Wiping'and Wedging contactWith the cartridge reel, and a flexible connection between said brakemember and said gun controls.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

LOUIS S MARSH.

